CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Following a medical emergency during the Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, organizers are introducing something new for runners.

A man went into cardiac arrest during the marathon, and his son and three other people saved him with CPR.

“Any participant, volunteer, anyone in the community actually that would like to learn hands only CPR,” said race Medical Director Lynn Ullestad. “We’re prepared to teach that for free.”

The Christie Clinic Illinois race organizers have a good reason. Last year doctor Rafael Ruggeri was running the course in Meadowbrook Park when he collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest.

“His life was saved in large measure because of the excellent care that he got that started that day with immediate hands only CPR,” Ullestad said.

The aid came from his son and three other runners. Now organizers are offering free classes, so more people have this lifesaving ability.

“Having someone begin high quality immediate CPR is essential to the lifesaving component of CPR,” said Race Director Jan Seeley.

Right now, you can choose to sign up for one of the four sessions on Feb. 8. Organizers said once those sessions fill up, they’ll open more in March.

“We will be led by these professionals in the skill and technique,” Seeley said.

The hope is that you never need to use what you learn. But what’s taught in these classes can be used beyond the racecourse.

“It’s just something that you can use anywhere that you run into an emergency,” Ullestad said. “Mother, father, grandfather, grandmother. Anybody that has a cardiac event.”

Seeley said she’s excited for the event to continue to be a force for good on and off the racecourse.

“We love having this extra initiative,” Seeley said. “This year that we will continue in future years.“

There are four different time slots you can sign up for on Feb. 8. You can clink the link here to sign up.